NYRON NOSWORTHY insists he is not afraid of a little healthy competition as he prepares to fight his way back into the Sunderland side.

Nosworthy is a week or two away from returning from a torn hamstring picked up in the 2-1 home defeat against Aston Villa a month ago.

But while he has been out, Black Cats boss Ricky Sbragia has acted to strengthen what was a threadbare defence, by signing Manchester City’s Tal Ben-Haim and West Ham’s Calum Davenport on loan until the end of the season.

That will leave Nosworthy competing with the two new boys, Danny Collins, Anton Ferdinand and – when he returns from a hamstring problem of his own – Paul McShane for a place in central defence.

“We were short of numbers but the manager has brought in a couple of new defenders and that means that there is a lot of competition in central defence now,” said Nosworthy.

“There’s always going to be competition for places in football and a manager is always going to want to test his players’ character. I’m all for being tested like that and, hopefully, I’ll come through.”

Until his injury, Nosworthy had been Ferdinand’s regular partner in central defence this season.

He has missed Sunderland’s last three league games and was also ruled out for a month earlier in the season with a similar injury, but has still played 16 of the Black Cats’ 25 Premier League games so far.

While Nosworthy has been out, the current pairing of Collins and Ferdinand has kept two clean sheets in three Premier League matches.

Only a controversial penalty against Newcastle denied them a perfect record – and Nosworthy knows he will have to work hard to get back in the side.

“Footballers are individuals and individuals all react to challenges differently, he said.

“We will all have to work hard in training every day and fight for places.

“Some will worry about their places if new players come into the club and the pressure is on, while others just get their head down and work to make sure they are the ones in the team.

“I’m not the kind of person to stress out and worry

“I just want to concentrate on doing what I have to do to get back in the team once I’m fit.”